Some members arrive at Ministry of Work with years of entrepreneurial experience behind them. Others arrive having just taken the boldest leap of their lives. Danyal Khan, founder of Altocrest Advisory, is firmly in the second category.
After a decade in top-tier banking and corporate advisory roles, he walked away from a secure career to build a boutique debt advisory firm dedicated to helping founder-led businesses access the funding they need to scale.
“You start off employed, with the guaranteed pay slip. Then suddenly you realise the money will not come unless you make it come. Starting your own business forces a different level of confidence.”
It is this blend of commercial expertise, empathy for founders and willingness to bet on himself that has shaped Altocrest’s strong first year.
From Global Banks to Founder-Led Businesses
Danyal’s career began in classic fashion. Straight out of university he joined HSBC in London, spending five years learning the mechanics of corporate lending before moving to the Royal Bank of Canada.
But something was missing.
“I wanted to work directly with founders. I found it so inspiring to see people take huge risks to build something from nothing. I wanted to be closer to that.”
In 2018 he joined EY, where he worked in debt advisory, helping clients raise funding to support expansion. He progressed quickly, eventually becoming a director. But even at that level, there was a problem: EY simply did not support the size of business he cared most about.
“I realised the firms I cared about most were the lower mid market. For me that is roughly one to nine million profit. Founder-led, privately owned businesses. EY fees were too high for that market. I wanted to give those businesses access to proper advice at a fairer price.”
It became the catalyst for starting Altocrest Advisory.
Launching Altocrest: A Calculated Gamble
In 2024 Danyal took the leap. He left his director role and launched Altocrest Advisory, focusing on helping businesses raise debt between traditional bank loans and institutional capital.
It was a risk.
“People thought I was mad. I had a good job and a young family. But purpose matters. Watching entrepreneurs operate with so much clarity and drive made me want the same. It was an educated gamble.”
The early months were challenging, as they are for every new founder. But slowly the pipeline built, relationships formed and the deals began to land.
One standout success was supporting Swim!, the swimming academy founded by Olympian Steve Parry MBE and Rebeca Adlington MBE.
“They wanted to grow and had already raised equity. They asked if debt was possible because they did not want to dilute ownership. We raised £6.1 million from Santander, which allowed them to expand the number of pools across the UK. Funding is not glamorous, but when used properly it can create real impact.”
The win proved the model. By the end of year one, Altocrest had built a healthy client base and a growing reputation.
What Comes Next
For year two, Danyal is focused on sustainable growth.
“The plan is to hire someone. It is a big step because taking risk for yourself is one thing, but you do not want to put pressure on someone young. But it is the natural next stage.”
Alongside this comes deeper market presence, more deal flow and greater visibility in the founder ecosystem.
How Danyal Can Help Other Members
Whether a business is ready to raise now or simply planning ahead, Danyal is open about how he can support other members.
“Every business will eventually hit a point where it wants to grow. You only really have two options: equity or debt. Equity is safer because you do not repay it, but it dilutes your ownership. Debt lets you grow while staying in control. Even if someone is too early for me to work with formally, I am always happy to have an informal chat and point them in the right direction.”
His experience across banking, corporate advisory and founder-led funding means he can demystify a process that often feels intimidating for first-time founders.
What He Is Looking For From the Community
Like many members entering their second year of business, Danyal is looking ahead to hiring his first team member.
“There is so much experience in this building of hiring well and hiring badly. Learning from that would be invaluable as I take that step.”
He is also keen to connect with members needing funding advice or introductions in the financial ecosystem.
Life Outside the Boardroom
When not advising clients or spending time with his two young children, Danyal is a keen sportsman. Tennis has become his main outlet after retiring from football due to an ACL injury.
He laughs when telling the story.
“I actually did it at Real Madrid’s training academy. If you are going to get injured, that is not a bad place to do it. They even thought I was a professional player when they took me to hospital.”
Best Advice He Has Ever Received
There are two pieces that have stuck with him.
“Keep it simple. Control the controllables. I have a tendency to catastrophise situations that do not exist yet. Simplicity helps you stay grounded.”
And another, learned recently from an entrepreneur:
“Obstacles are not interruptions to the path. They are the path. That reframing changes everything.”
Connect With Danyal
Danyal is becoming a regular face at Ministry of Work and is always open for a coffee and a chat about business growth, funding or the entrepreneurial journey.
“Just message me and we will grab a coffee downstairs. I am loving it here.”
